The Ultimate Support Systems Apex AX 48B is a classic 2 to 3 tier keyboard stand. It debuted in the 80s and has been a standard for years, waxing and waning in aesthetic popularity (currently on the upswing, I think). At this point it still reigns as the best column keyboard stand out there. I’ve tried them all (the K&M Spyder is a close second) It would completely rock if USS would consider the following enhancements to this already great design:
- stronger door/latch to hold support bars during transport. The current plastic cap often comes unhitched and the bars spill out in the middle of the club or on the street when running your gear back to the car.
- a locking mechanism for the fold-out legs. This is the single most important design improvement USS could make. The legs currently store nicely, but flop out of position when trying to set the stand up—a real pain that every keyboardist who uses this stand complains about. A simple locking position when the leg is pulled out into stand position would totally rule. That way you could flip the stand over after extending the legs out.
- extensible lower bars. Currently you can buy the extended bar set, but they don’t fit in the handy carrying slots built into the stand. If there were easily extensible bars (similar to the Spyder stand) the arms would store in the stand and you’d get the added benefit of long arms should you need it.
- a slightly beefier, more comfortable handle would make the balancing/carrying of the stand more stable (I snuck this one it – the least important of the design improvements)